Ab initio study of the π–π interactions between CO2 and benzene,pyridine, and pyrrole

The π–π interactions between CO₂ and three aromatic molecules, namely benzene (C₆H₆), pyridine (C₅H₅N), and pyrrole (C₄H₅N), which represent common functional groups in metal‐organic/zeoliticimidazolate framework materials, were characterized using high‐level ab initio methods. The coupled‐cluster with single and double excitations and perturbative treatment of triple excitations (CCSD(T)) method with a complete basis set (CBS) was used to calibrate Hartree–Fock, density functional theory, and second‐order M?ller–Plesset (MP2) with resolution of the identity approximation calculations. Results at the MP2/def2‐QZVPP level showed the smallest deviations (only about 1 kJ/mol) compared with those at the CCSD(T)/CBS level of theory. The strength of π–π binding energies (BEs) followed the order C₄H₅N > C₆H₆ ～ C₅H₅N and was roughly correlated with the aromaticity and the charge transfer between CO₂ and aromatic molecule in clusters. Compared with hydrogen‐bond or electron donor–acceptor interactions observed during BE calculations at the MP2/def2‐QZVPP level of theory, π–π interactions significantly contribute to the total interactions between CO₂ and aromatic molecules. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Multiple discrete energy levels and the bistable state of weak anchoring NLC cells

The weak anchoring nematic liquid crystal (NLC) cell is investigated with regard to energy. Because the Gibbs free energy of liquid crystal system used in theory does not include temperature and entropy, and because the equations and boundary conditions for δG=0 are also the mechanical equilibrium conditions of the continuum, the Gibbs free energy G is equivalent to the energy E of the liquid crystal continuum. There are multiple solutions which satisfy these equations and boundary conditions, each solution corresponding to a certain energy value. We call these discrete energy values and energy levels. Adopting a simple liquid crystal cell model, the energy levels are calculated in detail by means of analytical and numerical methods. The results show that there are three energy levels (or more in certain cases). The values and sequence of the energy levels are related to the external field and anchoring parameters. The relationships between the energy level structure and the bistable. Fréedericksz transition are disussed, together with their influence on the response time. The physical condition for the existence of more than three energy levels is also given.     

Controllable alignment of liquid crystals based on the surface relief gratings from a photocross-linkable organic monomer

The orientational control of liquid crystal (LC) molecules is essential for high-quality liquid crystal displays, and the photo-induced surface relief grating (SRG) is a facile and effective non-contact process. Here, SRGs with different period and depth were prepared with a photocross-linkable organic monomer 4-propyldiphenylacetylenecarboxylic acid cinnamyl ester (PDACE), and the LC alignment induced by SRG was studied. It is found that both the surface topography and the chemical nature of the surface are responsible for the LC alignment, which is strongly dependent on the groove geometry of the gratings. Furthermore, the patterned LC cell was fabricated with the patterned SRG surface. These results demonstrate that the planar, perpendicular and patterned orientations of LC can be easily photo-controllably obtained with PDACE, which have important applications in optical devices.     

Temperature dependent light transmission-light scattering switching of (homeotropic liquid crystalline polymer network/liquid crystals/chiral dopant) composite film

A (photo-polymerizable liquid crystal (LC) monomer/LCs/chiral dopant/photoinitiator) mixture with a smectic A (SmA)-chiral nematic (N*) phase transition was sandwiched between two ITO glass substrates which were not subjected to any surface orientation treatment. When an electric field-induced homeotropically oriented SmA phase of the mixture was irradiated with UV light, an oriented liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) network was formed upon photo-polymerization of the LC monomer. Then, a (homeotropically oriented LCP network/LCs/chiral dopant) composite with a SmA-N* phase transition was prepared. A focal-conic texture appeared in the heat-induced N* phase of the composite upon heating from the transparent state of the homeotropically oriented SmA phase; the focal-conic texture exhibited strong light scattering. Upon cooling the composite to the SmA phase, this phase was again homeotropically oriented due to the strong intermolecular interaction between the LC molecules and the homeotropically oriented LCP network. Thus, the transparent state of the SmA phase and the light scattering state of the N* phase occurred reversibly upon cooling and heating, accompanied by the thermal SmA-N* phase transition.     

Fitting formula for the injection volume of a gas chromatograph for radio‐xenon sampling in the lower troposphere

GC is usually used for xenon concentration and radon removal in the International Monitoring System of the Comprehensive Nuclear‐Test‐Ban Treaty. In a gas chromatograph, the injection volume is defined to calculate the column capacity. In this paper, the injection volume was investigated and a fitting formula for the injection volume was derived and discussed subsequently. As a consequence, the xenon injection volume exponentially decreased with the column temperature increased, but exponentially increased as the flow rate increased.     

Development of novel graphene-like layered hexagonal boron nitride for adsorptive removal of antibiotic gatifloxacin from aqueous solution

Graphene-like layered hexagonal boron nitride (g-BN) was prepared and characterized. The performance of using g-BN as an adsorbent for removal of fluoroquinolone antibiotic gatifloxacin (GTF) from aqueous solution was evaluated. g-BN showed an excellent adsorption capability with notable GTF adsorption ratio of more than 90%. Data of equilibrium adsorption of GTF onto g-BN at different temperatures were represented by Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin isotherm models, and Langmuir exhibited the best fitting with the maximum adsorption capacity of 88.5 mg·g^?1 at 288 K. GTF adsorption was insignificantly affected by solution pH. Competitive role of Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ in the solution inhibited the adsorption of GTF and decreased the adsorption capacity a bit. The adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic. The adsorption was probably governed by π–π interaction between GTF and g-BN, and electrostatic interaction may also exist in the adsorption process.     

碳纳米管负载钯基催化剂催化氧化2,5-呋喃二甲醇合成2,5-呋喃二甲酸

为积极应对化石能源枯竭和生态环境日益严峻等问题,可再生生物质资源的深度开发并进一步替代传统能源或石化原料被广泛认可.利用高效催化技术将生物质资源转化为高附加值的平台化合物,有望衍生出大量具备新颖结构与功能的绿色化学品.2,5-呋喃二甲酸(FDCA)作为重要的生物质基平台化合物之一,具有巨大的市场应用价值,其中因其与化石基对苯二甲酸(PTA)有着极其相似的化学结构,以FDCA替代PTA作为合成单体制备大宗聚合物备受关注.以5-羟甲基糠醛(HMF)为原料,采用多相催化体系(主要是贵金属催化剂)选择氧化制备FDCA是目前广泛采用的方法.但“HMF路线”面临一些基础性的难题,如HMF熔点较低,需低温存储,增加了实际应用中的运输成本;HMF在碱性溶液中易降解,导致反应过程中碳平衡损失;HMF结构中含有的不对称的羟基和醛基官能团在氧化反应中会发生竞争反应,致使反应副产物较多;此外,碱性反应介质中通常会得到醛基优先氧化的中间体5-羟甲基-2-呋喃甲酸(HMFCA),但由于HMFCA结构中羧基官能团的存在使得羟基进一步氧化较为困难,通常需要增加碱浓度、提升温度或压力,使反应条件变得苛刻.因此,寻求新的原料替代HMF,实现温和条件下高效合成FDCA具有重要意义.本文采用改性后的碳纳米管负载Pd催化剂(Pd/o-CNT),从具有独特对称结构的2,5-二羟甲基呋喃(BHMF)出发,提出一种新颖、高效催化合成FDCA的“BHMF路线”.反应在60°C常压下进行,BHMF在20 min内即可完全转化,60 min后FDCA的产率最高可达93.0%,优于相同条件下HMF为原料时的性能(FDCA产率仅为35.7%).相比于未作处理的碳纳米管负载钯催化剂(Pd/CNT),Pd/o-CNT催化剂具有更高含量的氢化钯(PdH_x)物种,显著促进了FDCA产率的提升.Pd/o-CNT在循环使用10次后,BHMF仍能完全转化,FDCA产率维持在75%.稳定性下降可能与活性物种流失、团聚及价态变化有关.基于对照试验,本文提出了可能的反应路径,即BHMF主要是通过2,5-二甲酰基呋喃和5-甲酰基-2-呋喃甲酸作为过程中间体,有效转化为FDCA,从而规避并减少生成HMF和活性较低的HMFCA.本文通过以新原料BHMF作底物,实现了高效制备生物基平台化合物FDCA,为生物质的产业化应用提供了新的研究思路.     

Development of an Enantioselective Allylic Alkylation of Acyclic α-Fluoro-β-ketoesters for Asymmetric Synthesis of 3-Fluoropiperidines

The first useful enantioselective Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of α-fluoro-β-ketoesters has been achieved using the Trost family of chiral ligands yielding products in up to 92 % ee. This work provides new insights regarding the typically modest selectivities associated with acyclic α-fluoroenolates and shows experimental evidence that the typically poor levels of enantiocontrol associated with these systems are not necessarily due to the presence of E/Z enolate mixtures. Finally, this methodology allows the easy preparation of useful 3-fluoropiperidine intermediates, and it is demonstrated that these systems are applicable to a range of functionalization reactions leading to new building blocks for the discovery of bioactive products.     

基于CoFe(Ⅲ)PBA/GO过氧化物模拟酶化学发光法检测H2O2和抗坏血酸

制备了一种具有过氧化物酶活性的类普鲁士蓝/氧化石墨烯复合纳米材料(CoFe(Ⅲ)PBA/GO)。将具有过氧化物酶活性的CoFe(Ⅲ)PBA/GO和化学发光法相结合,构建了一种用于检测H₂O₂和抗坏血酸(AA)的化学发光分析法。CoFe(Ⅲ)PBA/GO催化H₂O₂产生的O₂·^-,·OH,1O₂自由基氧化Luminol会产生很强的化学发光信号,通过检测化学发光强度可以实现对H₂O₂的检测。该方法检测H₂O₂的线性范围为0~0.8μmol/L,检测限为11 nmol/L。利用AA作为活性氧消除剂可以抑制化学发光反应的特点,实现了AA的检测。该方法测定AA的线性范围为0.02~0.8μmol/L,检测限为20 nmol/L。方法已应用于H₂O₂消毒水中H₂O₂和维生素C片中抗坏血酸的检测。     

Surface Functionalization of PEO Nanofibers Using a TiO2 Suspension as Sheath Fluid in a Modified Coaxial Electrospinning Process

Convenient and integration fabrication process is a key issue for the application of functional nanofibers. A surface functionalization method was developed based on coaxial electrospinning to produce ultraviolet(UV) protection nanofibers. The titanium dioxide(TiO₂) nanoparticles suspension was delivered through the shell channel of the coaxial spinneret, by which the aggregation of TiO₂ nanoparticles was overcome and the distribution uniformity on the surface of polyethylene oxide(PEO) nanofiber was obtained. With the content of TiO₂ increasing from 0 to 3%(mass fraction), the average diameter of nanofibers increased from (380±30) nm to (480±100) nm. The surface functionalization can be realized during the electrospinning process to gain PEO/TiO₂ composite nanofibers directly. The uniform distribution of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the surface of nanofibers enhanced the UV absorption and resistance performance. The maximum UV protection factor(UPF) value of composite nanofibers reaches 2751. This work presented a novel surface-functionalized way for the preparation of composite nanofiber, which has great application potential in the field of micro/nano system integration fabrication.